Future USS Billings completes acceptance trials

The future USS Billings, the eighth Freedom-class littoral combat ship designed and built by Lockheed Martin, has completed acceptance trials in the waters of Lake Michigan.

The trials included a full-power run, manoeuvrability testing, and surface and air detect-to-engage demonstrations of the ship’s combat system. Major systems and features were demonstrated, including aviation support, small boat launch handling and recovery, and machinery control and automation.

The vessel is slated for delivery to the US Navy in 2019.